Police Receive $1.3 Million to Keep Kids in School

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A federally funded program that aims to keep Oklahoma students in school will give more than $1 million to police.

The program designed to combat truancy is not particularly groundbreaking, but it is proactive. The program was initially launched last year to great success.

"This is to show up with a law enforcement official showing up on your doorstep saying, 'parents you really don't want your child to get to that point where you're going to have to go to court,' and it's proven very, very effective," said Kathleen Kennedy, Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Kennedy said she saw the initiative first-hand last year when she rode along with police during the initial phase of the program.

"We were ecstatic to find out that they got additional monies to support more officers and doing it on a larger scope," Kennedy said.

Oklahoma City police have allocated $1.3 million to hiring seven officers specifically for the two-pronged anti-truancy program. Working with Oklahoma City Public Schools, police will identify the students who are often absent and then they track them down. From there, FACT, Family Awareness Community Teaming program, provides resources to help keep the child in class.

"If we can get through to that child or that youth before they go down that road and we can do some sort of intervention if you will, then we can get them on the right path," said Oklahoma City Police Capt. Steve McCool.

The Oklahoma City Public School District is looking forward to once again working with police.

"Students that have free time during the day cause a lot of problems. So it's in everybody's best interest that the students are in school in a productive, positive learning environment," Kennedy said.

Stimulus money will cover base salaries for three years. When those funds run out, the city has promised to fund the program.

The Tulsa Police Department will get $3.5 million for 18 officers while Broken Bow will be getting $117,100 for one officer and the Choctaw Nation will receive $114,998 for one officer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.